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LOS ANGELES, CA, November 15, 2012 – This January, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and the American Film Institute (AFI) will continue their series of specials exploring some of the greatest artistic collaborations in film. In the series’ third installment, TCM PRESENTS: AFI’S MASTER CLASS – THE ART OF COLLABORATION: Robert Zemeckis and Don Burgess, the two men discuss their work together in front of an audience comprised of AFI Fellows studying filmmaking at the world-renowned AFI Conservatory. The special will premiere Monday, January 14, 2013, at 8:00 p.m. (ET), only on TCM.

Oscar®-winning director Robert Zemeckis and Oscar®-nominated cinematographer Don Burgess began working together more than two decades ago and, since then, their collaborations have been nothing short of remarkable. Together they have created such acclaimed films as FORREST GUMP (1994), the Academy Award®-winning story of a simple man’s life through decades of U.S. history; the Oscar®-nominated sci-fi thriller CONTACT (1997), adapted from Carl Sagan’s book about an astronomer’s discovery of extra-terrestrial intelligence; the Oscar®-nominated CAST AWAY (2000), a tale of a man’s journey home after being stranded on a deserted island; and their latest film, FLIGHT (2012), an action-packed mystery thriller about a seasoned airline pilot’s struggles after his miraculous crash landing.

In the new AFI special, the two men discuss their many collaborations and how the art of visual storytelling plays into each film. They also discuss films that have inspired them, including CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (1971), THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971), THE GODFATHER (1972) and LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962). AFI’S MASTER CLASS is packed with clips from these films, as well as memorable scenes from the artists’ own movies.

TCM will follow this latest edition of AFI’S MASTER CLASS with a TCM premiere presentation of the Zemeckis and Burgess film, WHAT LIES BENEATH (2000), starring Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer and Katharine Towne, at 9:00 p.m. (ET) and an encore of the special at 11:30 p.m. (ET).

Master classes are a core part of the curriculum at the AFI Conservatory, which offers a Master of Fine Arts degree in six filmmaking disciplines and is consistently recognized as one of the world’s top film schools. With an audience comprised solely of AFI Fellows, two artists discuss films that inspired them and present clips from classic films. They also present and discuss their own collaborative work to illustrate different aspects of filmmaking. Each program concludes with a Q&A session with AFI Fellows.

The following is TCM’s complete schedule for the night of January 14 (all times Eastern):

About the American Film Institute (AFI)AFI is America’s promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI provides leadership in film, television and digital media and is dedicated to initiatives that engage the past, the present and the future of the moving image arts.

AFI preserves the legacy of America’s film heritage for future generations through the AFI Archive, comprised of rare footage from across the history of the moving image and the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, an authoritative record of American films from 1893 to the present.

AFI honors the artists and their work through a variety of annual programs and special events, including the AFI Life Achievement Award and AFI Awards. Celebrating its 41st year in 2013, the AFI Life Achievement Award has remained the highest honor for a career in film while AFI Awards, the Institute’s almanac for the 21st century, honors the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year. AFI’s 100 Years...100 Movies television events and movie reference lists have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers. And as the largest nonprofit exhibitor in the United States, AFI offers film enthusiasts a variety of events throughout the year, including AFI Fest presented by Audi, the Institute’s annual year-end celebration of artistic excellence in cinema; AFI Silverdocs, the largest documentary festival in the U.S.; and year-round programming at the AFI Silver Theatre in the Washington, DC, area.

AFI educates the next generation of storytellers at its AFI Conservatory, which has been consistently recognized as one of the world’s top film schools, boasting alumni including Darren Aronofsky, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, Heidi Levitt, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Terrence Malick, Wally Pfister, Robert Richardson, Ed Zwick and so many more. AFI Conservatory offers a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. Aspiring artists learn from the masters in a collaborative, hands-on production environment with an emphasis on storytelling.

About Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Turner Classic Movies is a Peabody Award-winning network that presents great films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world. Currently seen in more than 85 million homes, TCM features the insights of hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests. As the foremost authority in classic films, TCM offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, along with regular programming events that include THE ESSENTIALS, hosted by Robert Osborne and Drew Barrymore, and the month-long 31 DAYS OF OSCAR® in February and SUMMER UNDER THE STARS in August. TCM also stages special events and screenings, such as the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood and the TCM Classic Cruise; produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs; and hosts a wealth of online through the TCM homepage, which includes the TCM Movie Database, message boards, blogs and more.

TCM is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company. Turner Broadcasting creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.